Will Love Be Enough?

Chapter 14: Battle of the Bands

KEN'S POV

The practice went well. Medyo nangangapa pa kami at first but it came together in the end. We were able to practice a few songs to test the dynamic of the band as one. I admit it was awkward to sing alongside someone else, and babae pa. We have practiced songs na solo lang ako and back up si Kia and also vice versa. We also had songs na duet talaga kami. One of which was Part of Me by Neckdeep. Medyo iniba namin arrangement and slowed it down a bit kasi medyo fast tempo yung original version nun. As in ang awkward namin ni hindi kami nagtitinginan and sobrang stiff lang. Napagalitan pa kami ni Enzo kasi para daw kaming mga statwa dun.So we didn't have a choice and just tried our best to get along. Eventually naging ok din naman.

Nasa school ako ngayon. Naghihintay ng next class ko. I was busy scrolling thru my phone when I heard someone call me. It was Enzo standing sa may pinto ng classroom. So I stood up and nilapitan siya.

 "What's up?"Tanong ko sa kanya pagkalapit ko. 

"Pinapatawag tayo ni Sir Reyes. Andun na sila except you and Kia. Kayo lang naman kasi magkadepartment. Ikaw na una kong dinaanan since nasa fourth floor ang class ni Kia now. Tara na. Puntahan na natin siya." Sabi ni Enzo and nag-umpisa ng maglakad palabas. I just ran to my seat and got my bag and sumunod na sa kanya.

As we were walking, Enzo asked me something. "Hey Ken. Do you find Kia attractive?" 

I was caught off guard. Napaka out of the blue kasi ng tanong niya. Napapansin ko na din nga actually yung pagka awkward ng feeling minsan esp if Kia is around. Nahuhuli ko siya minsan na parang ang daming iniisip na parang may mga gusto siyang sabihin na di niya masabi. Enzo is a mysterious type of guy. Kahit ako na halos kilala na niya buong buhay niya, hindi ko padin siya maabot minsan.

"No. I don't." Sagot ko. "And don't ask me anything anymore"

He went silent after and so nagpatuloy na kami sa paglalakad papunta sa 4th floor. Papunta kay Kia habang iniisip kung ano nga bang totoong sagot ko sa tanong ni Enzo. Kasi parang mali yung sinagot ko.

KIA'S POV

Kakalabas ko lang ng room kasi tapos na klase ko. Naglalakad ako ng may tumawag sakin and I know isa sa mga damohong taga Oblivion yun. Lumingon ako and nakumpirma nga ang hinala ko. 

"Yes?" sabi ko nang makalapit na sila sakin. Di ko talaga din gets anong klaseng utak meron tong dalawang to. May times na masayahin sila at meron ding times nga sobrang susuplado ng pagmumukha nila katulad ngayon. 

"Tawag daw tayo." Enzo said, expressionless. He explained na we were needed daw sa office ni Mr. Reyes. Naisip kong ano na naman kaya yun. Baka ipadisband na kami. Sana naman. Baka narealize na ni sir na di kami effective as a band. Sana naman. Fingers crossed.

So we started walking to Mr. Reyes' office. Ang awkward pa ng buong journey papunta dun kasi si Enzo, nakatutok sa phone niya, si Ken naka-earphones tas ako, wala lang. Nagmamaganda. 

A few deadmahan later, dumating na din kami sa office. Di pa kami napasok sa loob, dinig mo na sa labas ang pagbabangayan ng tatlo pang member ng Oblivion. Kung gano kasi kaseryoso tong dalawang kasabay ko, ganun din ka abnormal yung tatlo pa nilang kaibigan.

Pagpasok namin sabay-sabay pa talaga silang lumingon at nagngingiti. Andon na din pala si Mr. Reyes na surprisingly nakangiti din. Anong problema ng mga to?

Kanya kanya na kaming upo. Magkakatabi yung tatlong unggoy habang sa tapat nila, kami naman nina Enzo staka Ken magkakatabi. 

"Hello sa inyo Kia, Ken and Enzo. Hindi na namin kayo nahintay at nasabi ko na kina Kale, Drei and Liam yung reason kung bat ko kayo pinatawag dito." Sir Reyes

Napatingin ako sa tatlong nasa harap ko na kitang kita sa mukha yung excitement. Alam mo yung parang gusto nila sila na magsabi. Lalo na si Kale na kitang-kita mong nagpipigil lang na magsalita. Mukhang tanga.

"What is it about Sir?" Enzo finally spoke up.

"Yearly kasi, may inter-school Battle of the Bands." Simula ni Sir Reyes. And just that yung kaba ko umabot ng Tawi-Tawi. Parang alam ko na san papunta to. Kaya pala ang sasaya ng tatlong unggoy kanina pagpasok namin. "This usually happens around October, by the end of the sem." he continued. "And since kayo ang school band, you will represent the school for the said battle"

Okay. Inhale. Exhale. Una sa lahat, bakit ako umabot sa puntong to ng buhay ko? Kumanta lang naman ako ng nakapajama sa kwarto ni Miles. Ah yes. Dahil kay Miles. Kay Miles lahat nagsimula to. Letsugas na Miles yun. I have never played in front of a large crowd ever in my life. But it changed the day ng convocation, dahil ulit sa walangyang video na yun ni Miles. Naging part ng school band, dahil dun sa convocation. Ngayon naman magiging competitor sa isang battle of the bands. When in fact, never pa nga kaming tumugtog na magkakasama, as a band, in front of people, in a show. Now tell me? Road to kahihiyan. Jusme. Ni halos di pa nga kami magkakasundo eh. 

"That would be great sir. But Stupor never even had the chance to play as a band yet. It would be suicide to join the Battle of the Bands w/o any experience on playing together." Enzo said with a straight face. As usual, I know siya lang may sense sa kanila. "Oblivion will be fine. Sanay na kami. Pero since nasali tong isang to," he added and looked at me then looked at Sir Reyes again, "Were doomed to fail." 

Uminit bigla ulo ko. Binabawi ko na pala. He doesn't make sense na. Kainis. So ako pabigat ganun? Narinig ko tumikhim si Ken sa tabi ko. Paglingon ko, aba parang natatawa pa. See? See my dilemma? Hindi kami magkasundo. Halata naman siguro. That's why its really not a good idea.

"Not that I agree with Enzo's reason sir, since yes bagohan ako but I refuse to be the group's dead weight and besides di ko naman ginusto maging part ng lahat ng to. But wouldn't it be wiser kung next year na kami sasali? That way, we will have more time pa to practice and be a team. Halata naman din siguro na hindi kami magkasundo?" Sabi ko sabay irap kay Enzo. Kala niya siya lang may alam pano magtaray ha.

I heard the 3 idiots in front of me, yes yun na tawag ko sa kanila, snickered. I heard Drei said "In yo face Enzo." sabay tawa nilang tatlo. 

"Yes. I hear you." Sir Reyes said. "But it will be in October pa. You still have months of preparation. I have confidence that by that time magkasundo na kayo and your chemistry will be unparalleled. So yes. As the school official band, you have no choice but to participate. I called you to inform you. Not to ask you." Said Sir Reyes with conviction.

Sige nga? Kung kayo nasa lugar namin ano pa magagawa mo? Called to inform lang daw eh. Not to ask permission. Jusko naman. 

Miles. Humanda ka talaga sakin mamaya.